A teacher has started the year on a high note after walking away with a brand-new Nissan Navara double cab valued at over E600,000, having spent only E237 at the Mbabane OK Foods store.
Hilda Gule (45), a teacher at Nyakatfo Nazarene Primary School in the Hhohho Region, emerged as the winner of OK Foods’ 2026 “Win a Bakkie” national competition, which draws thousands of shoppers across the OK Franchise Group.
Gule secured her entry by purchasing a qualifying product and swiping her Count On! Loyalty Card, a simple transaction that entered her in a national digital draw open to customers in Eswatini, South Africa, and Namibia.
The Win a Bakkie competition is an annual holiday-season promotion across the OK Franchise Group that rewards customers for their continued support. The promotion allows shoppers who purchase selected participating products and swipe their Count On! Loyalty Cards to automatically enter a national digital drawing.
Customers may enter as many times as they wish, with each qualifying purchase increasing their chances of winning. Originally launched as a regional campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, the competition has since expanded to include Eswatini, South Africa, and Namibia, making it one of OK Foods’ flagship customer reward initiatives for the holiday season.
Speaking during the vehicle handover, OK Foods Regional Operations Manager for KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini, Nazeem Martin, said the competition has run for many years and is designed to reward loyal customers while strengthening brand engagement.
“This is a national competition that has run for many years. Customers enter by purchasing specific participating products and swiping their loyalty cards. Each qualifying purchase gives them another chance to win,” Martin said. He explained that the competition began as a regional initiative in KwaZulu-Natal and later expanded throughout the entire OK Franchise Group.
“This winner from Eswatini competed against customers from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and even Namibia. Of the approximately six bakkies available, she is the only winner from Eswatini, making this a very special moment,” he said.
Martins further clarified that the competition is not part of OK Foods’ Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, but rather a customer appreciation initiative. “This is purely about appreciating our customers, inviting them into our stores, providing them with value for their money, and thanking them for shopping with us. When they swipe their card and participate, the reward is there,” he said.
An emotional Gule described her win as nothing short of a miracle and expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the life-changing prize. “For His grace and His favour, this is a miracle. I thank OK Foods for hosting this competition and for selecting me as the winner. I am truly grateful for this gift,” she said.
She pledged continued loyalty to the brand, noting that the vehicle would also serve as a moving endorsement. “I promise OK Foods that I will remain your customer. As I drive this car, everyone who approaches me will be motivated to come and buy at OK Foods,” she said. Gule, who has been in the teaching profession for many years, said the new vehicle would significantly improve her mobility and daily life.
Meanwhile, Lincoln Motsa, the OK Foods franchise owner and Managing Director in Eswatini, congratulated Gule on her win, calling the vehicle a blessing not only for her but also for her family.
“Let this car bring joy to you and your family. Let it be a blessing and a source of happiness. Please enjoy this car, and as you do, remember OK Foods and, most importantly, remember God. God can do amazing things,” Motsa said. He also expressed appreciation for customers nationwide who continue to support OK Foods.
OK Foods thanked its customers, business partners, and participating brands, noting that the Win a Bakkie competition will continue rewarding loyal shoppers across its outlets. “We look forward to welcoming our customers back to our stores in 2026 and beyond,” Martin said.